The first 6 weeks after your baby is born is probably the hardest time. You will feel overwhelmed and often a little scared but the good news is it gets easier

Remember these tips and you will be just fine!

• Accept help. If your mother/friends offer to watch baby while you bath/have a nap – accept it.
• Sleep when baby sleeps. I never managed to get this right with my first child but with the second one as soon as she shut her eyes I would nap with her.
• Don’t stress about the small things – like changing or cleaning orwashing. When you can do it, do it.
• Your newborn will not break nor will she come to any harm if she cries.
• Get out of the house! Meet a friend for coffee. Go walk around PnP. Just make sure you get out of the house for a bit.
• If you don’t want visitors simply say no. As nice as it is to have people come and visit sometimes it is too much.
• Get help. Even if you get a domestic working in once a week you need help. Someone just to do the ironing/cleaning etc.
• Switch off your phone/computer. Unnecessary phone calls just create additional stress.
• Be flexible. Your baby may not have been listening the day you announced she will sleep 6 hours in her own room or will breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. So be open to change the plan a little.
• Make sure you eat and drink enough. It’s easy to forget to do this in those early days and it is then that you need it the most.
• Let your partner help. Even if you feel he is doing it wrong – leave him. He has to learn. Go sit and watch some TV and leave the two of them to figure it out.

The most important thing to remember is to enjoy your baby